“I’m sure. But maybe it’s time for you to consider that being attached to something or someone you love won’t always end in pain. And maybe you don’t need to find excuses to push away someone you might have a real connection with.”
Was that what she’d done? Felicity frowned. Well. It was true she’d known Cooper loved being a vet and wanted to do nothing more with her life. She’d said so. And even knowing that, Felicity had up and decided she would push her into a promotion that dealt largely with the one thing she did badly: office work.
Was that her subconscious desperately putting a stop to things before they started? Or was she just being a bit blinkered, forgetting that not everyone wanted to climb ever higher in their jobs the way she did? Or a bit of both?
“I’m not sure how things blew up in my face,” Felicity admitted. “I just hate that they did.”
“Well, then, how about this: when you think of your woman, how does she make you feel?”
A smile stretched Felicity’s lips. Then heat filled her. And delight at the thought of seeing her again. And curiosity about whatever cases she had seen. Anticipation of telling her about her day. “Good,” she said. “Really good.” Then came a twinge of pain that that was all over.
“So then what’s the problem?”
“She’s mad at me.”
Her mother laughed. “I’m so very shocked that my abrasive daughter who says the bluntest nonsense to people has somehow offended a woman she fancies.”
“Hey!” Felicity, however, couldn’t stop the smile.
There was the sound of voices in the background, one Felicity recognized as her mother’s assistant.
“Darling, I have to go in a second. Those rocket kits won’t pack themselves. But let me just cut to the chase: congratulations on making it to the top of your little mountain. Sorry,” her mother said before Felicity could object, “enormous mountain. And now you’re there, you’ve discovered that all your happiness isn’t just sitting there like a pot of gold. You’re feeling empty because you have no one to share your success with. So go, find the woman who makes you feel ‘good, really good,’ make up to her for whatever idiocy you no doubt spouted that made her mad in the first place—”
“Wait. How do you know it was my fault?”
“Well, even if it wasn’t, which is worse: being alone but right forever, or together and briefly wrong until you forget all about this?”
“Oh.”
“But it was your fault because you think vets lack ambition. And frankly, that’s ludicrous.”
“Mom—”
“No, I won’t hear another word about that. The woman’s amazing and driven, end of story. Now then, my last advice, and this is most important…”
Felicity leaned in, listening intently.
“Invite her to Christmas. I just know I’ll love her.”
“Christmas! We haven’t even known each other a month.”
“So what? Anyone who can get you admitting you like them and they make you feel good has to be really special. You never said a word about how Phillip made you feel. It’s telling. All right? ‘Bye, darling! Love you!”
The phone went dead.
Well, then. Felicity sat back, feeling a little dazed. It seemed the two mentors she most respected in life, Elena and her mom, were in agreement.
There was also Rosalind Stone’s parting bit of wisdom about hanging on to those rare people who don’t crave money, power, or status, but who liked you for you. Her tally shifted to three votes.
Her mission was clear: she had to win back Dr. Sandy Cooper.
Felicity suddenly felt a burn of anticipation. She always was good when given a clear mission. And as it happened…hostile takeovers were her specialty.
CHAPTER 17
Wooing Sandy Cooper
Felicity approached The Wooing of Sandy Cooper (an actual to-do list title in her planner) with all the care and diligence she would any other workplace mission.
She started by writing a letter. It was short and to the point, but she trusted it got her meaning across.
Dear Cooper,
I’m very sorry about our disagreement. I was wrong to impose my view of career success on you—even unintentionally—when it’s clear you’re happy where you are, doing what you’re doing. I respect you and your vocation. I understand you had to be very dedicated to become a vet, and that is admirable.
I trust Mrs. Brooks has been filling her new role as director adequately. The promotion was unanimously approved by our board, which I’m sure you’ll be pleased about.
I’ll be in touch shortly on the topic of the former matter—our unfortunate disagreement—and making reparations in regards to that situation.
Yours sincerely,
Felicity Simmons
